![]() |
![]() |
Your picture & resume are your calling card - the first thing a casting director sees and often the ONLY tool used to determine your qualifications. Therefore, they need to represent you as professionally as possible. Theatrical resumes are not the same as traditional business resumes, so in the following, you'll find our suggestions and some explanations, followed by a couple of examples.
White paper is preferable for a very simple reason: Black ink on white paper is the most extreme contrast of colors and makes for the easiest reading. When auditioning, you want casting directors to be able to glance easily down at the page while you're performing, not straining to make out your past credits. Keep in mind that casting directors are looking at many, many resumes and auditions through the course of an audition series. Eyestrain is a major factor in fatigue - and fatigue quickly translates into irritability.
Font Style: Again - as you are auditioning, an interested producer will want to refer to your resume, but you want him to be watching you! Fancy fonts are tremendous fun to play with, but they can be detrimental to your audition. Choose a variation based on the basic Roman alphabet: Times New Roman, Helvetica, Gil Sans, Arial, Bookman Old Style, etc. Italics are unnecessary. Play around with your font selections on your p.c. and you'll get the picture.
Point Size: Please don't use use anything smaller than 11 point, and 12 point is preferable. Smaller point sizes are very hard to read. If your resume is packed to the gills at 11 point, then congratulations! You've already got a lot of experience. But it also means that it's time to start doing some pruning from the different categories.
Format the page so it can be cropped to match your 8x10 photo's size. Standard paper size is 8-1/2 x 11, and the excess edges will get ragged and tatty looking - unprofessional.